Fen Rove Beetle vs Waterlily Leaf Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Fen Rove Beetle Waterlily Leaf Beetle
Scientific Name Stenus providus Galerucella nymphaeae
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Chrysomelidae
Size 3.5-4.5 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Wetlands Ponds & Lakes
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Northern Europe Europe, Northern Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Fen Rove Beetle

A tiny rove beetle of wetland margins with exceptionally large eyes for a beetle its size. Uses a retractable sticky labial pad to catch springtails. Confined to fen habitats.

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Did You Know?

Has proportionally the largest eyes of any British beetle relative to its body size.

Waterlily Leaf Beetle

A small, brown leaf beetle that feeds on the upper surfaces of waterlily pads. It creates distinctive feeding grooves across floating leaves.

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Did You Know?

Although it feeds on aquatic plants, the beetle cannot swim and will drown if it falls off a lily pad into open water.